Apparatus for heat-treating mineral material



Sept. -30,v 1952 J. V. SLAVICK APPARATUS FOR HEAT TRATING MINERAL MATERIAL Filed Dec. 2, 1949 4 Shee'bcs-Sheet l Sept. 30, 1952 J. v. v'sLAxvlcK- .y

APPARATUS FOR HEATTREATING MINERAL MATERIAL Filed D90. 2, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 www? @.Qfm

. INVENToR. JosePH-VSLAWCK www ATTORNEY Sept. 30, 1952 J. v. s LAvlcK 2,612,263

AEEARATUSEOE HEAT TREATING MINERAL MATERIAL 4 .sheets-sheet s Filed Dec. 2, 1949 vJosEPH VSL/WICK ATTORNEY Filed nec. 2, 1949 4 sheets-sheet 4 Sept. 30, 1952 J. v. sLAvlcK 2,612,263'

FPRATUS FOR HEAT TREATING MINERAL MATERIAL.`

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INVENTOR.

.b .,josEPH V SLAWCK ATTORNEY' Patented Sept. 30, 1952 APYPARATUS FOR HEAT-lRllATl'NGr.` MINERAL MATERIAL Joseph V.' Slavck, Albuquerque, N. Mex., assigner of .three-.fourths to Howard D; White, Chif cago, Ill;

Application December 2, 1949, Serial No. 130,744

2 Claims.

My invention relates to apparatus'for `expanding perlite andforthe -heat` -treatment of-other mineral material. y y

Animportantobject o-ffthe invention i-s-to `provideansapparatus of the-f-above mentioned vcharacter Whichis relatively sim-ple,`v cheap: .to `manufacture, andwhich maybe operated by a minimum of attendants.

A furtherf' object of thef invention visv to `provide apparatus of 'the above vmentioned charactenwhichl will -`rst'lseparate-out thelarge particles and then separate out from thedischarging gases the small particles;

A further' object f or thef invention is. to provide apparatus of `vthe above. mentioned characterv which may be constructed -substantially gas-'tight to prevent-theffumes.fromescaping in prox-imityto the attendants.

A further object of the inventlonis to( provide lafmethod--which may bel-employed 'to quickly andeeonomically heatitreat the divided solid mineral material.

In the=acco`mpanying kdrawings;fornfiing apart of this applicationr and inf.which .like .numerals are/employed todesignate like parts throughout the same,

Figurel' is a-'centra'i vertical longitudinal .section through the apparatus embodyingf-:mv'nfven-tion,

Figure/i1a isa'iragmentary central vertical section rf'ti'irough thefuppernendof the hopper, vpreheating-pipe and associatedelements',`

Figure l2 isy astransverse fv'ertieal section taken lOnline 2--2 oflFigurefl,

Figurerf3Lisraihorizontal section; taken". on .line 'eL-'320i' Figiurel; looking. downwardly,

Figure 1i-is amtransverse section; taken onl .line -l-lloffFigureL 4 I Fgurei'iis airont endy elevation of fthefurnace, parts'broken away,k l

Figure til `is sa horizontal .sectiontaken .on .line 6-5Lo Figure Llooking downwardly,

Figure# is'afhorizontal section'taken on line 3-3 loffFigure l; looking upwardly, .f

F-igurefl'fl is :av `eentral y vVertical. section through asecond form of heating chamber.

Figure 'isa similar View through .azthird' form of heating chamber,xand

Figure 19 is a' similar v'view c through a fourth form of heating chamber. l

'The apparatus compriseslaxseparating unit I0, including, a horizontally elongated'vertical casing -I I having an upper 'horliionta'l ftop 1 I 2. This casing-includes ardownwardly taperedl portion I3 which-terminates -atits bottomninfal trans- Versely circular curved trough' I 4.- This trough is offset laterally with respect to the central -longitudinal axis of the'casing II. The casing I'I is supported yby posts oruprights I5.v

The .casing I I iszprovded at its top and rear `end with a ldischarge opening I6, extending throughout its entire Width, and thisdischarge'opening leads-into a vertical flue ychamber I"'I projecting above the top I2 and continuing asavertical stack or leading into. a .vertical stack. The vertical 'flue chamber I'I has a downwardly tapered lower` portion I8, Figure 2, leadingiinto a vertical. ue I9, disposed at the transverse Vcenter of thecasing'fl I. 'The trough I4ris offset laterallywithtrespect `.to the. fluefl!!v and is .arranged upon .one side :ofthe same, as. shown.' The trough I4 isconnectedwat its discharge.- vend with' a conveyor: ".tube'z-20, surrounded byna- Water 'jacketiZL to cool the same. The trough I4 and -tuhep20 'forming-x an f, extension of .thetrougharel horizontally arrangedand receive a horizontal spiral conveyor 22, `which feeds the 'material .from thertrougntothenutlet end y23 of the tube 20 to .dischargenthe lsame into a bag 23'. orthelike. The'. spiral conveyor includesashaft 24, .thefendsof wl'iioh'areV jour- `nalecl n'bearings .formed inspiders 25, one spider is; arranged. at .the closed :end: -of t thez trough. I 4, while the. other spi-denis. .arranged adjacent to the outlet .end :2310i 'thetubelILy The spiral conve'yor. 22 is driven by. any suitable: means, as' by a'. motor 251-connectedcw-ith the shaft :24 by suitable gearing '12.6,l

The z-lower endzof "the flue I 9 .leadsiintoeaA water holding tank 21 and has its dischargeyendarranged beneath the .level of the l-vvater therein. It might be .stated `at .this f :point that the-1 lii-ne solid :particles recovered :from :the .luevgases drop throughiiue. I9 and are-collectedffin thewater inthe stank 12;'I. Waterris .circulatedfiin the tank 21 `by means of a pumpwithdrawing the .Water .from .theftank through 'apipe ..29 andA returning the water into :thextank' through 1a. pipe .39: The nelyr'divided. solid. material floats to the .-surface Iof :the water Vand is removed from 'such surfaeebyy an endless beltl engagingrollers 3l', 32 and I33 C This belt travels near .and beneath abank 32.1ofiinfra1redlamps which drythe solid particles; lThesel solid '.xdred.' particlesxxare '..dscharged to a point .where ftney :may be received ina bag. 33 .or the like..

Theitop 1231s equipped with spaced *traf 'depending-'haines:34f.andr35; .BaiileII is ably. .longitudinally straight,y ,while the b are horizontally il-"shaped"V B'aiilea34vis av .considerable .distance :from thesides. of i.:

3 ing I I, while the baies 35 terminate close to the sides. Each baille is vertically tapered downwardly, Figure 4.

A transverse horizontal pipe 36 is arranged Within the casing I I near and beneath the top I2 and adjacent to the opening I 5 and has a longitudinal group lof spaced spray nozzles 31, which face toward the stack chamber I1 and are disposed at an angle of about 30 degrees from the horizontal. These spray nozzles spray Water into the ascending heated gases to wet the solid fine perlite particles, causing them to drop down by gravity through the lower ilue I9. Water is supplied to the horizontal pipe 3'6 under suitable pressure in a continuous manner by any suitable means.

T-he apparatus comprises a furnace unit 38. This furnace unit includes a substantially vertical long heating chamber 39, which is rectangular in horizontal cross-section and is preferably the same width as the casing I I. This heating chamber is wide transversely of the casing II and relatively narrow vlongitudinally of the casing. This vertical `heating chamber has its upper end open andldischarging into -a coupling 40, the top of whi-ch is preferably rounded. This coupling leads into the intake end of the casing II. The bottom of the coupling is in the form of inclined walls 4I and 42, preventing the solid material from accumulating thereon. The sides of the heating chamber 39 diverge downwardly from points 43 and the diverging side portions 43 may be enclosed in brick walls 44 or other refractory material. If desired, the chamber 39 may terminate at the top of the brick walls 44 which will be built to form a vertical passage corresponding to the shape of the lower downwardly diverging end of the heating chamber 39.

A burner is provided to supply products of combustion into the lower end of the chamber 39. This burner comprises a horizontal pipe 45 having vertical burner el-ements 46 secured thereto. The flames from the burner elements 46 discharge upwardly into the heating chamber 39. The pipe 45 is connected with an air blower 41 to supply air under suitable pressure to the pipe 45, and gas is supplied to the pipe 45 from va pipe 48. The proper mixture of air and gas is provided by the pipe 48 and blower 41 and this mixture issupplied to the burner elements 4B. Any desired gas may be used as ,fuel and the mixture of air and gas can be regulated as is found advantagecus.

Arranged in contact with the outer side of the heating chamber 39 is a hopper 49, discharging into a vertical preheating pipe 50, in contact with the heating chamber 39. The inner side of the pipe 50 is formed by the outer side of the chamber 39. The pipe 59 is rectangularin crosssection and is preferably of the same width as the heating chamber 39. The preheating pipe is provi-ded at its lower discharge end with an inclined bottom or lip I extending through an opening 52 in the outer'side of the chamber 39 and projecting into the chamber 39. The bot-,.- tcm 5I is arranged above the points 43. A heat insulating jacket 53 encloses the heating charnber 39 and preheating pipe 50.

The bottom o-f the hopper 49 is covered by a horizontal reciprocatory bar valve 54, th-e ends of which slide within openings 55 formed in the ends 50 of the pipe 50'.` The bar valve extends outwardly beyond the hopper for -a short distance so that its ends remain within the opening 55 during the stroke of the bar valve. The bar valve slides .upon stationary supports 56. The bar valve is provided with a straight longitudinal group of spaced openings or apertures 51, which may vary in size, and may be one-fourth of an inch, three-eighths of an inch, or five-sixteenths of an inch in diameter, or other diameters. The purpose of the bar valve is to eiIect a continuous, even feeding of the divided material in the form of a curtain. Arranged beneath the bar valve 54 and .rigidly secured thereto, is an inclined plate 58, slightly shorter than the width of the preheating pipe 50 so that it will not interfere with the stroke of the bar valve. The solid particles passing through the openings 51 fall upon the inclined belt 58, reciprocating with the bar valve whereby these particles are discharged downwardly in the form of a curtain. The bar valve is reciprocated by means of a rod 59 secured thereto and this rod has pivotal connection with a link 60, pvoted to a crank 6| rotated by a motor B2. It is thus seen that the motor will reciprocate the bar valve.

In the rst form of the invention, the heating chamber 39 has the same width transversely of the casing I I throughout the entire lengthof the chamber 39 but its sides 43 diverge downwardly, as shown.

In Figure 7', I have shown a heating chamber 53 to be used in place of the heating chamber 39. This heating flue 63 is identical with the chamber 39 except that its sides 63' are parallel through their entire length. l

In Figure 8, I have shownxa heating chamber 64 to be used in place of the chamber 39. This chamber B4 is identical with the chamber 39 except thatl its sides B4 diverge upwardly from its bottom to points. 65 `and then converge upwardly to points 66.

In Figure 9, I have shown a further modied form of heating chamber to be used in place of the heating chamber 39. This chamber is designated by the numeral 61 and is identical with the chamber 3'9 except'that its sides 61 are provided with opposed inwardly projecting shoulders.

68. All heating chambers have inlet openings 52 and 'all other parts of the apparatus remain identical.

The operation of the -apparatus is as follows:

When the apparatus is used for the heat treatment of perlite, the perlite rock is crushed or divided. Satisfactory results are obtainable by having the largest particles of the crushed perlite rock one-fourth of an inch in size, and smaller or finer particles also are produced by the crushing. The perlite rockmay be crushed to smaller sizes and may beground to substantially a powder. The crushed or divided perlite containing the: large and small particles is introduced into the hopper 49, which is maintained substantially filled with this material. The burner device is set into operation andthe heated gases or products of combustion from the burner elements discharge into the heating chamber 39 and travel upwardly therein and pass through the coupling 40, through the top of the casing II-and through the opening I9 into the fiue chamber I1. The burner device is regulated to heat the interior of the heating chamber 39 from 1600" F. to 2600o F., required to properly volumetrically expand the perlite. While the burner device is thus operating, the bar valve 54 is reciprocating and the divided perlite agitated and fed in a regulated manner through the openings 51, which are of sufficient size to permit of the passage of the largest particle. The perlite particles pass throughthe openings in the bar valve in the form of a curtain. andiall against; the inclneddplate 58 vand fall into. the` preheating pipe 5U, in the form ofta. curtain, descend therein, and strike against the inclined bottomf 5l and slide from this. bottom into the heatingk chamber 39... The perlite .particles are. preheated before entering theheating furnacei, which, aids in their expansion. .The Yperlite..particlesare fed into the heating. chamber. inthe form of a curtainand as soon .as these particles enter the heating chamber..39,.they are Vacted upon by the.; heat therein, from ,16.00F F. to. 2.6009'17., and are, instantly expanded volumetriically., One cubic foot of the divided, perliteA material weighs approximately 80 pounds, but after it is expanded, one cubic foot weighs only 6 to 1 6 pounds. The divided expanded perlite now passes upwardly with the upwardly ascending hot gases or products of combustion in which it is suspended. The expanded divided perlite material or vparticles which vary in size, now pass from the top. of the heating chamber 39 and enterthe topof the casing ll, and travel horizontally therein. The larger particles strike against the baflies 34 and 35, which arrest their horizontal travel and cause them to drop by gravity and pass to the trough I4, from which they are removed by the screw conveyor. The smaller or lighter particles which are not thus separated out from the heated gases continue to travel with the gases and pass with them through the opening I6 and enter the flue chamber l1. As the heated gases and line particles move upwardly in the iiue chamber l1, the water spray from the nozzles 31 wets the ne perlite particles which are rendered heavier and they drop down through the ue I9 into the tank 21. These wet particles tend to float upon the upper surface of the water in the tank and are removed from such surface by the belt 3l and dried as they pass beneath the bank of infra-red lamps 32. The removed fine particles are carried by the conveyor to a bag or the like.

While I have shown and described the apparatus in the practice of the method for treating divided perlite, it may be used to expand and calcine pumice. Fine particles of lime also may be calcined by passing the same through th-e apparatus, as described in -connection with perlite.

The heating chamber and other parts of the apparatus may be made of a heat resistant alloy or any suitable refractory material.

It is to be understood that the form of the apparatus herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes may be resorted to in the shape, size and arrangement of parts, and that changes may be resorted to in the steps of the method, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subioined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. Apparatus for expanding and collecting the expanded perlite comprising a wide Ahorizontal casing having a substantially greater length than width, said casing including a top, sides and ends, one end being provided at the top with an. inlet opening extending for substantially the entire width of the casing and the opposite end being provided at the top with an outlet opening extending for substantially the entire width of the casing, said casing including a downwardly tapering lower portion including sides arranged at a steep angle so that the expanded perlite will slide downwardly thereon, said lower portion beingv provided at'its bottom with a trough extendinglongitudinally ofthe casing throughout the` maior portion .of the. length of the casing, a substantially vertical inlet heating chamber extendingforsubstantially the entire width ofthe casing and the inlet opening and leading at its upper end into the inlet opening of the casingy and having its top vertically inclined inwardly and longitudinally of the casing to direct the expanded perlite material horizontally through the inlet opening and casing, meansv for supplying the divided perlite and heated gases into the heating chamber throughout Asubstantially the entire width of the heating chamber, transverse baiiies arranged upon the inner face of the top of the casingv and extending'throughout substantially the entire vwidth'of the casing, said baiiies being` arranged in a longitudinal group extending throughout the entire length lof the casing and throughout the entire length of the trough, the

arrangement being such that the 4light expanded perlite will be separated out from the hot gas stream bythe baflles and willbe Vconducted-to, the trough without liability of clinging to parts of the casing, and a conveyer operating within the trough to remove the solid expanded perlite.

2. Apparatus for expanding and collecting the expanded perlite comprising a wide horizontal casing having a substantially greater length than width, said casing including a top, sides and ends, one end being provided at the top with an inlet opening extending for substantially the entire width of the casing and the opposite end being provided at the top with an outlet opening extending for substantially the entire width of the casing, said casing including a downwardly tapering lower portion including sides arranged at a steep angle so that the expanded perlite will slide downwardly thereon, said lower portion being provided at its bottom with a circularly curved trough extending longitudinally of the casing throughout the major portion of the length of the casing, a substantially vertical inlet heating chamber extending for substantially the entire width of the casing and the inlet opening and leading at its upper end into the inlet opening of the casing and having its top vertically inclined inwardly and longitudinally of the casing to direct the expanded perlite material horizontally through the inlet opening and casing, means for supplying the divided perlite and heated gases into the heating chamber throughout substantially the entire width of the heating chamber, transverse bafes arranged upon the inner face of the top of the casing and extending throughout substantially the entire width of the casing, said bailies being arranged in a longitudinal group extending throughout the entire length of the casing and throughout the entire length of the trough, the arrangement being such that the expanded perlite will be separated out from the hot gas stream by the baflies and will be conducted to the trough without liability of clinging to parts of the casing, a vertical lue chamber extending throughout substantially the entire width of the casing and disposed at the end of` the casing having the discharge opening for communication with said discharge opening, a depending flue connected with the lower end of the flue chamber at its transverse center, the trough being offset laterally with respect to the iiue to be disposed upon one side ofthe flue, an outlet tube disposed upon one side of the nue and connected with the dis charge end of the trough and arranged in an REFERENCES CITED The following references are cf recordin vthe me of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Date Number Name 212,508 Robinson Feb. 18, l1879 233,297 Stevens Oct. 12, 1880 268,981 Barr Dec. 12, 1882 279,164 Hitchcock June 12, 1883 292,944 Parson Feb. 5, 1884 320,998 Behm June 30, 1885 487,597 Bauhard Dec. 6, 1892 613,828 Storer et al Nov. 8, 1898 920,333

Hughes May 4, 1909 8 Number Name Date 1,389,394 Stoneback Aug 30, 1921 1,484,208 Davis Feb. 19, 1924 1,993,264 Duttweler Mar. 5, 1935 2,039,833 Payne May 5, 1936 2,352,738 Ruthrui July 4, 1944 2,421,902 Neuschotz June 10, 1947 2,431,884 Neuschotz Dec. 2, 1947 2,462,366 Davies Feb. 22, 1949 2,478,889 Harris Aug. 16, 1949 2,496,203 Flint Jan. 31, 1950 2,501,962 Pierce Mar. 28, 1950 2,505,249 Johnston Apr. 25, 1950 2,550,877 Stailord May 1, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 5,693 Great Britain of 1901 OTHER REFERENCES King, Calif. Journ. of Mines and Geology, vol. 44, No. 3 (July 1948), pages l293-319; available at Division of Mines, Ferry Building, San Francisco. California. 

